Yesterday, the BAFTA Game Awards 2024 honored the past twelve months of the industry. Hosted by comedian and former Taskmaster contesta??nt Phil Wang, the show was a celebration o??f what gaming has achieved recently.

As is typical with a lot of award shows, there were some varying at?tempts at humor. Which is a shame because, knowing Phil's work, I suspect he was not responsible for a lot of the jokes written on the teleprompter.

Still, it didn't detract from the jubilation, as a lot of games released in the past year �as well as their respective developers �were given their due credits.?? Below are the list of all the winners and nominations from th??is year's event.

Animation

• Alan Wake 2
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• WINNER: Hi-Fi Rush

Artistic Achievement

• Baldur's Gate 3
• Cocoon
• Diablo 4
• Finaly Fantasy XVI
• Hi-Fi Rush
• WINNER: Alan Wake 2

Audio Achievement

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• Hi-Fi Rush
• The Legend of Zelda: tears of the Kingdom
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• WINNER: Alan Wake 2

British Game

• Cassette Beasts
• Dead Island 2
• Disney Illusion Island
• Football Manager 2024
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin
• WINNER: Viewfinder

Debut Game

• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Dredge
• Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
• Viewfinder
• WINNER: Venba

Evolving Game

• Final Fantasy XIV Online
• Fortnite
• Forza Horizon 5
• Genshin Impact
• No Man's Sky
• WINNER: Cyberpunk 2077

Family

• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Disney Illusion Island
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Hogwarts Legacy
• WINNER: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Game Beyond Entertainment

• Chants of Sennaar
• Goodbye Volcano High
• Terra Nil
• Thirsty Suitors
• Venba
• WINNER: Tchia

Game Design

• Cocoon
• Dredge
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2
• Viewfinder
• WINNER: Dave the Diver

Multiplayer

• Baldur's Gate 3
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• Diablo 4
• Forza Motorsport
• Party Animals
• WINNER: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Music

• Alan Wake 2
• Assassin's Creed Mirage
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• WINNER: Baldur's Gate 3

Narrative

• Alan Wake 2
• Dredge
• Final Fantasy XVI
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Star Wars Jed: Survivor
• WINNER: Baldur's Gate 3

New Intellectual Property

• Chants of Sennaar
• Dave the Diver
• Dredge
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Jusant
• WINNER: Viewfinder

Performer In A Leading Role

• Amelia Tyler (Narrator in Baldur's Gate 3)
• Cameron Monaghan (Carl Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor)
• Neil Newbon (Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3)
• Samantha Béart (Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3)
• Yuri Lowenthal (Peter Parker in Marvel's Spider-Man 2)
• WINNER: Nadji Jeter (Miles Morales in Marvel's Spider-Man 2)

Performer In A Supporting Role

• Debra Wilson (Cere Juna in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor)
• Ralph Ineson (Cidolfus "Cid" Telamon in Final Fantasy XVI)
• Sam Lake (Alex Casey in Alan Wake 2)
• Tony Todd (Venom in Marvel's Spider-Man 2)
• Tracy Wiles (Jaheira in Baldur's Gate 3)
• WINNER: Andrew Wincott (Raphael in Baldur's Gate 3)

Technical Achievement

• Alan Wake 2
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2
• Starfield
• WINNER: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

EE Players' Choice Award (public vote)

• Cyberpunk 2077
• Fortnite
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Lethal Company
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2
• WINNER: Baldur's Gate 3

Best Game

• Alan Wake 2
• Dave the Diver
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• WINNER: Baldur's Gate 3

BAFTA Game Special Award

• SpecialEffect, presented to founder and CEO Dr. Mick Donegan MBE for "outstanding contributions to games, film and television" in helping "people with even the most severe physical challenges to access video games."

The post BAFTA Game Awards 2024: All winners and nom??inations appeared first on Destructoid.

To be perfectly honest, sitting down and thinking about my favorite games of 2023 has been a surreal experience. When I look back on my corresponding list I wrote in 2022, I feel like the person who wrote tha?t? is a fundamentally different person than who I am today.

At the time, I was still recovering from some rough life experiences and wasn’t playing a lot of new games. My list of candidates was so sparse that I had to include Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year, which is totally real and not just something I mocked up in RPG Maker. Look, I’ve always had an overwhelming passion for video games. Once upon a time, I was here as a community member of Destructoid talking about my story of playing Final Fantasy II (IV) before I could even read. But it was always something I treated as my hobby and no??t my work.

Now, ever since Chris �.5�Carter invited me to write for Destructoid full-time, my relationship with the world of gaming has changed a lot. I’ve gotten to preview games like Persona 3 Reload, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and even Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I was able to review huge games like Diablo 4 and be on the forefront of complaining about its microtransactions. And aside from talking about new releases, I got to write about the insane backstory behind Gex and how The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse still holds up.

And of course, I must mention the entire week I spent pouring my heart and soul into a single Link’s Awakening analysis for Destructoid’s Zelda Week.? I’ve been given so many opportunities to follow my passions here, and I cannot express how thankful I am that so many of you have been reading my words. Despite the gaming community?’s reputation for toxicity, most of you have been nothing but exceedingly kind and supportive. I don’t know what I did to deserve that, but from the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful to you all.

The dark side of the industry

That said, I can’t say this year has been a bed of roses. Being this close to “the industry�and seeing how the sausage gets made has meant being keenly aware of layoffs after layoffs after layoffs after layoffs after�you get the point.

It’s been hard to retain my enthusiasm for video games when the people making them have been treated like disposable assets. It’s as if the ones responsible for these firings merely see their employees as gears in a machine, completely unaware that those gears have hopes, aspirations, families, and maybe the occasional desire to just stop turning for a few minutes. Even if 2023 was a particularly bad year for job sec?urity, it’s not like any of this is necessarily new. But it’s been hard to sit here and enjoy amazing new video games when so many live??s were changed in the process.

In the face of such tumultuous times,?? I’ve frankly felt kind of cursed. Feelings of imposter syndrome and more have welled up throughout the year. All in all, I’m doing okay. But I also couldn’t talk about a bunch of cool games I played this ye?ar without acknowledging the sheer mental and emotional cost they accrued. My hope beyond hope is that everyone who lost their jobs this year will land back on their feet soon.

Now let’s talk about video games

Some quick ground rules for my rankings: I’m not limiting my picks this year to strictly 2023 games. Since ther?e was some warm reception last year to seeing older games pop up, anything I played this year is fair game. Priority is given to comp??letely new titles though, so don’t expect older stuff in the top 3.

Also, I’m only ranking games that I finished or at least got close to finishing. So while I’m sure Tears of the Kingdom belongs on this list, I didn't play enough to have much to say about it. And given how much I struggled to find time this year, I had absolutely no chance of making progress in Baldur’s Gate 3. I played more games than I ever ?have and still missed some of the biggest hits of the year, which is maybe worrying. I’m going to choose not ??to think about that now.

Timothy Monbleau’s favorite disaster of 2023: The Last of Us on PC

Look, playing The Last of Us on PC was not pleasant. I had a lot of issues, to the point that my write-up for the port had less to do with the game and more to do with my whirlwind experience of playing it. But I can’t pretend that I didn’t have ??an absolute blast writing that piece for you all.

From what I understand, The Last of Us on PC is at least a bit better today than it was then. At the very least, the underlying game was still excellent, which made coping with the ridiculous PC port easier. It was a good, bad time, and sometimes those experiences are memorable too. Still probably better than half the th??ings Zoey puts herself ?through every week, though.

#10: Astlibra Revision

I was barely able to finish Astlibra before 2023 ended. Fittingly, it barely makes its way onto my best of the year list. Granted, I don’t mean that as an insult. The fact that I’d sooner rank a game made predominately by one person over other polished AAA games is a testament to KEIZO's dedication to this passion project. The ever-evolving gameplay was an absolute trip, and the story really stuck out to me with its numerous twists and tu?rns.

It’s a title for a very specific audience. But if you like the grindy games, there’s truly nothing quite like Astlibra.

#9: The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

Few things make me smile wider than a Falcom action game, and The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is no exception. Despite technically being an HD version of a decade-old PSP game, Nayuta’s adventure absolutely competes with the best games released this year. The combat gave me a rush that only Falcom games can, and the?? soundtrack is easily one of my favorites of this year.

Nayutaâ€??™s adventure is pure RPG comfort food. One day, I’d love to complete a New Game Plus run and see everything it has to offer. It's just a pleasant time from start to finish, and a game I highly recommend you check out if it passed you by this year.

#8: Final Fantasy VII Remake

How’s this for a long overdue backlog game? Someone into both RPGs and Final Fantasy like me should have had Final Fantasy VII Remake long finished by now, but with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth o??n the horizon, I?? knew I needed to catch up. And, surprise, it’s a good game.

I’m going to make a potentially controversial statement here, but the weirdest thing about Final Fantasy VII Remake is that it kind of felt like a better version of Final Fantasy XIII? I mean, the dungeon design often devolves into hallways, but the inclusion of puzzles and twists and turns helps disguise it much better. The battle system feels like an evolution of the mix of action and menu-based combat XIII attempted, with things skewed towards the “action�side to give more player freedom. Even the weapon upgrades feel like the Cr?ystarium with less busy w?ork.

I don’t say this to argue that Final Fantasy XIII is actually a misunderstood gem. It was just a weird case of déjà vu, but also a testament to? how rough ideas can be refined in interesting ways. Also, I like that Tifa and Aerith are pals this time around. I’m not emotionally prepared fo?r anything to happen to them in the sequel.

#7: Rakuen Deluxe Edition

Rakuen is the very first game I reviewed for Destructoid, and�I honestly feel a little bad about it. I was still finding my voice at the time, and in retrospect, I perhaps focused too much on critique and created a negative sounding review. A lot of that was because of my reaction to Mr. Saitou, but it does seem like most people d?id enjoy that little side story. Honestly, I’m happy to? be in the minority as far as that goes!

All of this is to say, Rakuen was a special experience. It’s a very earnest, emotional story that hit me hard after my experience through the pandemic, even though Rakuen originally came out in 2017. And Laura Shigihara did a fantastic job on the music here. Build a Little World With Me is one of th??e most emotionally devastating songs I’ve ever heard, and I’m amazed more artists haven’t covered ?it. I’d say I’ll listen to anyone who takes a stab at it, but I don't think I’m ready for that feels-trip again.

#6: Blasphemous 2

As far as my personal tastes go, Blasphemous 2 is an absolute dark horse hit. I genuinely was not grabbed at all by Blasphemous when I tried it out, and I was prepared to just treat reviewing the sequel like sheer work. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I didn’t just like Blasphemous 2, but I loved it. It just hit so many notes that I feel a Metroidvania should, and I adored nearly every boss battle.

I don’t typically expect Metroidvanias to hit the highs of stuff like the GBA Castlevania games, but The Game Kitchen pulled it off in stride. It’s just a good as he??ll video game that's well worth your time, whether you played the first or not.

#5: Super Mario RPG

It’s Super Mario RPG, what do I even have to say? It’s one of gaming’s greatest creative collaborations, and this remake retains nearly everything that made the SNES classic special. Mario RPGs work so well for both genre fanatics and those who typically dislike RPGs, and Super Mario RPG especially reminded me of that.

If the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake (remaster?) does just as well and succe?eds commercially, I hope we see a renaiss??ance of Nintendo RPGs. Bonus points if we get Yoko Shimomura back for the soundtracks!

#4: Terranigma

Anyone who has followed me this year knows I’ve spent a lot of time discussing this nearly 30 year old RPG. I wro?te a whole passionate write-up about ?it back in May, and I even ranked it as one of the top three best SNES games ever made. Given how much I’ve already said about it, I’m ?going to let you in on my d?irty secret that partially influenced why I’m so enthusiastic about it.

This year was the first time I’d ever finished Terranigma.

Don’t get me wrong, I played Terranigma a lot when I was younger. However, given the game’s Europe exclusivity, let’s just say I had a rough time trying to beat it with a keyboard two decades ago. My main motivation for playing it this year is that I wanted to rank Illusion of Gaia on my best SNES games l?ist. However, I needed to see if Quintet’s subsequent game was more worthy of the spot.

I was not prepared for how hard Terranigma’s themes would strike right through my soul. Shortly after I finished the game, my girlfriend called me while she drove home from work. I was doing my best to engage in our usual small talk, but she could tell there was something different about me??.

She asked me about it, and I just started bawling, and we spent the rest of our call talking about Terranigma. The ending didn’t even have those big emotional moments that I was expecting it would. But everything Terranigma was about, and everything it had built up to, just sunk in. I was so profoundly sad and so happy to be alive all at the same time, and I couldn’t believe something that powerful was hidden in an SNES game all this time. A week hasn’t gone by since where I haven’t t??hought about ??Ark’s journey in one way or another.

I gave myself the rule about prioritizing newer games in my rankings here because Terranigma w???as, hands down, the game that impacted me the most this year. It’s easily in my top 10 games of all time and stands as a testament to the reasons we create and share art with each other. I’m almost three decades late to the party, but you did it Quintet. You created a masterpiece, and I’ll never, ever forget it.

#3: Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is somehow both a critical darling and a surprisingly divisive game, and I can understand both sides. I don’t necessarily agree with every take on its gameplay or story I’ve read, but I do get the points of view. Personally, Final Fantasy XVI really resonated with me, and I felt it was the kind of story I needed ??this y??ear.

As I discussed back when I was ranking Final Fantasy games, the series likes to explore the concept of hope amid hopeless circumstances. And despite how edgy Final Fantasy XVI is, I felt this spirit was intact. This particularly struck me early in Clive’s journey, when he is getting to know his mentor figure Cid. Clive explains his desire f??or revenge, which makes Cid rather bluntly respond with:

“Fate. You’re content to be its slave then.�/p>

Many RPGs explore the concept of fate, but usually from an external perspective. For example, for the characters in Final Fantasy XIII, their fate of becoming l’Cie is forced on them, and the game’s theme involves breaking free of that fate. But in Final Fantasy XVI, fate is anything that takes our agency away from us. Whether it’s the destruction of your home or a desire for revenge that clouds your judgment, we’re consta??ntly? struggling with forces that threaten to take or redirect our freedom.

That depiction of fate has really struck me since it’s something that I struggle with daily. And I’ll venture a guess that many of you have your own "fates" you're battling too. ??Reframing fate in those terms has, weirdly, been mentally grounding for me. Whenever I feel myself staring too d??eep into that void, feeling hopeless as the world around us just seems weirder and dumber with each passing day, I try to remember Cid’s words. I don’t want to be a slave to fate. No matter how futile that may seem, it’s something I want to fight against.

I also like the part where Clive gets the big laser beam move and can go pew pew on his enemies. Good game, I hope to have a drink with Ben Starr someday.

#2: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

After discussing two games in a row that made me think and feel, it’s also important to remember games that are like the equivalent of being dropped in a Six Flags as a kid with $500 in your wallet. I went into Super Mario Bros. Wonder expecting something along the lines of the New Super Mario Bros. games, but what I got instead was pure, unadulterated joy. As much as I like to wax poetic about video games, sometimes I ??enjoy a good vacation too.

I love 3D Mario, but 2D Mario has always been where it’s at for my tastes. And Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, without a doubt, the best 2D Mario game I’ve played since Super Mario World. The level design consistently knocks it out of the park, the Wonder gimmicks are almost always entertaining, and it’s visually more filled with life than all the New games combined. There wasn’t a minute of Wonder whe?re I wasn’t having fun; it was pure Nintendo magic from start to finish.

All in all, 2023 was a great year for Mario fans. And as cynical as I’ve become about our modern corporate world, the thought of parents sharing these wonderful Mario? experiences with their kids this year just warms my heart.

#1: Octopath Traveler 2

Octopath Traveler 2 is one of those games where I couldn’t even comprehend how special it was until it was over. I went into it expecting more of the original Octopath Traveler, which I liked but did not love (similar to Chris Carter’s take). But if Octopath Traveler was a love letter to golden age SNES/PSX RPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 is a perfect encapsulation of them.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most fun RPG worlds I’ve ever explored. There are secrets and bosses around nearly every corner, rewarding every ounce of curiosity you have. At the same time, it never feels like you’re just cutting through filler content either. Octopath Traveler 2 is immaculatel?y paced, always tantalizing your senses with story objectives and rare treasures to pursue.

Similarly, the game’s combat mechanics offer a wonderful level of depth. Random encounters never gave me that usual feeling of tedium, since I felt consistently engaged in figuring out ways to dispatch foes faster and faster. Octopath Traveler 2 does a fantastic job of offering rich levels of party customization, yet it never bogs the player down with them. I was constantly getting huge “aha!â€?moments whenever I discovered different synergies with my skills and equipment. This did eventually make the game feel easy, but I also felt like I’d earned it. Even after spending nearly 100 ho??urs with the game, I was fiddling with my team and experimenting with new ideas.

The?? segmented story has grown on me?? in retrospect too. While I initially didn’t like how separated each character’s tale was, that structure felt so real to me this year. Our paths often cross with friends and comrades, but ultimately, we’re all the heroes of our own stories. We all have our dreams we’re reaching for, and those goals may create temporary friendships of convenience.

But that’s not to say that those practical relationships can’t become meaningful. It’s human to want to make connections where we can, and we see the characters in Octopath Traveler 2 do that too. Hikari’s mission to lead Ku will naturally diverge from Agnea’s aspiration to become a star. But that doesn’t mean that, for a brief time, they can't share a story together. People often come and go in our lives, and seemingly lifelong friendships may become fleeting over time. But those memories, however temporary, are important. And by the end of Octopath Traveler 2, that’s the? sense I got from these eight unlikely, but ultimately relatable allies.

There’s no telling where our paths in life will take us. But if we only look ahead at where we want to be, we might miss the adventure we can have now. And in the case of Octopath Traveler 2, there are few adventures I’ll ever look back on as fondly. Here’s to what 2024 may bring, and may Team Asano rest easy knowing they’ve created such a special, capti?vating game.

#0: Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year 2: We’re All Content

That crazy bastard did it again, ?Jimothy Donbleau wins Game of the Year 2023!!!

The post Timothy Monbleau’s 10 favorite games of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is officially out, and it’s downright superb. I absolutely loved playing this one prior to release, and I’m so excited the rest of you can experience this wonderful side-scrolling platformer too. I had to make th??at pun somewhere. I’m not going to apologize for it.

To be clear, Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t a hard game. There are stages you can unlock here that will test your skill, but overall, this one’s 100% casual friendly. That said, as I was playing the game, I did come across a fe?w quirks that I would have liked to know before I started playing. These are, ultimately, rather small things, but honestly, I’m just writing this as an excuse to chat more about this game with you all. So for those preparing for their foray into the Flo??wer Kingdom, here are five spoiler-free tips to kickstart your adventure.

?Also, I don't know what spoilers are. That's how you know you won't find spoil??ers here.

1: A check mark means you’ve 100% cleared a level

For those serious about their Mario games, simply getting to the credits isn’t enough. It’s only when every possible secret is uncovered that the game is well and truly finished. Super Mario Bros. Wonder helps you achieve this goal with a handy course list that shows you what y??ou’ve collected in each level.

You’ll notice that the game records whether you’ve found each Wonder Seed and 10-Flower Coin, as well as whether you grabbed the top of the flagpole in every stage. However, even with seemingly everything unlocked, you may notice that some levels will have check marks on them while others lack them. That means there are things hiding in those stages that you’ve yet to uncover.

What are those things, you might ask? I’m not gonna tell you. You clicked an article called � spoiler-free tips for Super Mario Bros. Wonder.�Let me know in the comments if you’d prefer me to write � spoiler-ridden tips for Super Mario Bros. Wonder�instead.

2: Badges you unlock later may make earlier secrets easier to find

I don’t want to say there’s power creep in a Mario game, but there’s power creep in a Mario game. The Badge system lets you equip a myriad of abilities, ranging from new moves to passive effects. You’ll have some nifty Badges to try out early on, but some of the late-game Badges are just categorically better than earlier ones. I ranked all of them here, s??o you can read that if you just want to know what everything is before you even play. I’m totally killing this spoiler-free thing.

Getting back on t?rack, I bring this up because, if you try to 100% the game as you go, you may bash your head wondering where certain secrets are. A full set of Badges will help you out immensely, as even otherwise niche abilities can come in handy.

3: You’ll keep collectibles upon death, but will lose them if you select Restart Course

This is a weird mechanic, but I did run into it on a couple of occasions. In Wonder, a??ny Wonder Seeds or 10-F??lower Coins you collect in a stage will stay collected if you lose a life. In other words, if you feel like tossing Mario off a cliff just to get a 10-Flower Coin, that’s technically a valid way to use a life.

However, if for ??some reason you decide to manually restart a stage in the pause menu, you’ll lose all those pickups. No, you won’t get your lives back, but you will lose everything else you got during that run. A pretty raw deal, honestly, but this fortunately doesn’t cause many problems for the vast majority of the game. Does implying that this could become a problem count as a spoiler? If so, apologies to the jbsgame.community.

4: Pits without shadows won’t kill you

Pits are bad in Mario games. I’m sure all of us have fallen down one and lost a life once in our gaming lives. If you tell me you haven’t, then you are lying. And if you continue to insist you haven’t, then I will spoil the entire plot of Kingdom Hearts 4 for you. That game was only just announced, but I kno?w Mickey dies in that one. I know, ??I know, I can't believe Goofy would do such a thing either.

Anyway, you may very well come across some secrets that you just cannot track down. Some require you to fall down those otherwise dangerous-looking pits, but who wants to keep throwing lives away until they find the pit they want? Fortunately, there’s a subt?le tell to help you n?otice what pits hide secrets or not. If a pit has a light shadow effect on the bottom of the screen, that will take a life from you as usual. However, if a pit has no visible shadow, there’s something for you to find down there.

I mean, if you want to throw Toad into pits indiscriminately because you didn’t approve of his turnpike in Mario Kart 64, I’m not going to stop y?ou. I’m just saying you don’t have to.

5: There’s a late game level that is great for quickly obtaining power-ups.

Okay.

Okay.

OKAY. Maybe this one might count as a spoiler. Spoilers in Mario games are weird, man. I still think this is a really good tip, and I won’t rev??eal any details about the world itself, so I guess you can decide if you consider this spoilery ?or not.

Anyway, in World 6, you’ll find a stage called �strong>Search Party: Item Park.�At the beginning of the stage, you’ll have the ability to grab any of the three new power-ups in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, in an interesting twist, nothing is stopping you from immediately leav??ing with your loadout of choice. Typically, you’d have to complete a stage to retain power-ups, but not in this one. Walk in, pick your item of choice as well as one to put in reser?ve, and be on your merry way.

Most players prob?ably won’t need to farm power-ups like this. However, I did find one occasion where I really appreciated this trick. If I said anything more than that, I’d definitely be revealing spoilers, so I’m going to end this article here.

Why did I start this off so enthusiastic about Mario, only to immediately devolve into a series of gags about spoilers? I wish my brain was ?normal some?times.

The post 5 spoiler-free tips for Super Mario Bros. Wonder appeared first on Destructoid.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if someone commented on every decision you made in Mario? Well, according to a recent Super Mario Bros. Wonder developer interview, the idea?? of live commentary was test??ed for the game.

Takashi Tezuka, a producer on Wonder, asked the game's programming director, Shiro M?ouri, about the concept during the game's development. From there, th??e team "actually spent about six months seriously developing live commentary," according to Nintendo's Koichi Hayashida, in hopes of adding voices that matched the player's actions.

During development, a generic "newscaster" voice and a "Tsundere" option were entertained. A Japanese adjective, Tsundere is usually attributed towards a person or personality that's cold and harsh with glimpses of affection. Popular examples include Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion and Rukia from Bleach.

"In fact, according to our play te??st records, quite a few people were switching to the ??Tsundere commentary," said Mouri, which prompted laughs from the team.

A Pipe Dream

Unfortunately, Tezuka—one of the supporters of the idea—realized that "if we were to do th??is commentary feature seriously, just the process of creating voice variations alone would've involved a tremendous amount of work." The idea was dropped but the concept led to the creat??ion of the Talking Flowers, which give the player comments when roaming the Flower Kingdom.

"We thought the gameplay might be more enjoyabl?e if the Talking Flowers speak to you and you can resonate with what they're saying," said Tezuka.

"They've got some funny lines like, 'Make sure you're getting your veggies!' as a parent might say," added Masanobu Sato, Super Mario Bros. Wonder's art director. "I think it's a fun experience for those w?atching the player too."

The idea of live commentary in-game isn't a far-fetched idea. In fact, 2023's Street Fighter VI had one for their fighting gameplay, even going as far as having different languages. Farther than that, 2019's Rage 2 collaborated with different YouTubers to be commentators for its FPS shooter. Regardless, it's fun to think that Wonder mi??ght have been more in line with a sports match. Maybe they can be the Delfino Dolphins. Or maybe the Kansas City Koopalings? One can only wonder.

Just recently, Kevin Afghani was announced as the new voice for Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, so we did technically get some new commentary. Our very own Timothy Monbleau gave the game a 9 in his glowing review, citing the game's ambition and fun gameplay. Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches on October 20 on Nintendo Switch.

The post Super Mario Bros. Wonder team once experimented with li?ve commentary appeared first on Destructoid.

It's official: we have a new voice actor for Mario! And no, it isn't Chris Pratt. Rumors swirled about who might take up the Italian plumber's big shoes after longtime voice Charles Martinet announced his departure from the role. Well, it's now confirmed that Mario, as well as Luigi, will be played by voice actor Kevin Afghani in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It's unknown if he will play th??e role in future titles.

This news comes a week before the highly-anticipated release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which will now mark Kevin's first appearance as the beloved icon. Nintendo themselves, as reported by The Verge, confirmed his role in an email sent out to them. The reveal of Mario and Luigi's new voice lines up with Doug Bowser (not that Bowser) saying the actor would be revealed towards release. It also comes a day after data-miners, according to Kotaku, managed?? to find the cast list throug??h demos available at various Target locations.

In terms of Kevin Afghani's work, he hasn't done too much. His biggest role on IMDb lists Arnold in Genshin Impact. He's also done some YouTube skits for the video-game-based animation channel MASHED. It's a very impressive feat for someone to become the next f?ace of Mario early in their career. I can sp?eak for a lot of people when I say that we can't wait to see what Kevin can do and wish him the best.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder releases on Nintendo Switch on October 20.

The post T??he?? new Mario voice actor has officially been revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

The year is moving so quickly, and somehow the October 2023 games are drawing near. We'll finally be able to continue Spidey's story in the Insomniac Marvel universe and play a traditional-style Assassin's Creed game. Both Sonic and Mario return to the 2D platforming genre as well. Here's what to expect from the? October 2023 games lineup.

Alan Wake 2

Publisher: Epic Games
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Price: $49.99 (PC) $59.99 (PS5/Xbox Series X|S)
Release Date: October 27
Trailer

The Alan Wake series is going survival horror in the sequel more than a decade in the making. The titular writer has been imprisoned in the Dark Place after saving his wife, and he's been stuck there for 13 years. Enter an FBI agent named Saga Anderson investigating the murders of the Bright Falls townsfolk: You'll be playing both characters as you try to solve the mystery of these missing people. Check out these games if you can't wait to play Alan Wake 2.

Assassin's Creed Mirage

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Bordeaux
Price: $49.99
Release Date: October 5
Trailer

At a cheaper price point, Assassin's Creed Mirage is going back to its series origins. There isn't a huge open world to explore, and there's more of a focus on the core components of the franchise. It's also a shorter game at approximately 20 hours rather than the hundreds you've arduously spent in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. It could be a refreshing c?hange as we explore 9th-century Baghdad.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Publisher: PlayStation
Developer: Insomniac Games
Price: $69.99
Release Date: October 20
Trailer

PlayStation's biggest release of the year Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is swinging on by your PS5 this month. You'll be playing both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as the former struggles to deal with his demons. You can instantly switch between the two heroes as you swing around the open world. Two new boroughs (Brooklyn and Queens) have been added to the game. Some major villains from the comics like Kraven The Hunter and Venom will also test your abilities.

Sonic Superstars

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Price: $59.99
Release Date: October 16
Trailer

Sure, it's a disappointment that Sonic Superstars isn't pixel-based. However, there's still so much potential within this 2D platformer. Three of your friends can join your adventure, and the visuals look vi?brant on-screen. There are new powers you can utilize in the game, and you can swim up waterfalls using the power of the chaos emeralds.

Additionally, there's a competitive local and online mode that has you racing against up to seven players. Sonic Superstars seems to be the nex??t b??ig step for the 2D sub-series.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $69.99
Release Date: October 20
Trailer

Just four days after Sonic's latest 2D adventure, Super Mario Bros. Wonder jumps out of the warp pipe and into your Nintendo Switch. Also featuring four-player co-op, this game includes a n??ew generation of gorgeous visuals and imaginative level design. You'll als?o be able to play as Daisy for the first time in a platformer like this.

As someone who disliked the dull New Super Mario Bros. series, I'm looking forwa??rd to getting excited about a 2D Mario again.

Honorable Mentions

• Cassette Beasts: Pier of the Unknown (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - October 4
• Front Mission 2 Remake (Switch) â€?October 5
• Detective Pikachu Returns (Switch) - October 6
• Sword Art Online Last Recollection (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - October 6
• Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S, PC) - October 10
• Batman: Arkham Trilogy (Switch) - October 13
• Lords of the Fallen (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - October 13
• The Caligula Effect 2 (PS5) - October 17
• Wizard with a Gun (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - October 17
• Endless Dunegon (PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) - October 19
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)
• Gargoyles Remastered (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) - October 19
• Cities Skylines 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - October 24
• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 (PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) - October 24
• Ghostrunner 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - October 26
• UFC 5 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) - October 27

The post Most anticipated games – October 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

After stepping down as the voice of Mario and preparing for his new role as Mario Ambassador, Charles Martinet has a message for fans. With help from cr??eator Shigeru Miyamoto, the longtime voice of Mario took a moment to introduce his new role and gush about how much he loves all ?the people who have supported him as Mario over the years.

The video starts with a hearty, "It's a-m?e, Charles!," as Martinet effortlessly leaps into the iconic voices of multiple characters. It's a bittersweet reminder that we'll no longer hear him as Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi. While he won't be doing those voices in games, his new role will allow him to continue meeting with fans. Martinet calls this a "great, great honor" and says he's looking forward to seeing folks at events? around the world.

Miyamoto follows that intro with some reminiscing about the first time he met Martinet, who has been voicing Mario since Super Mario 64 in 1996. He fondly recalls filming videos with Martinet and how he prioritized putting smiles on faces. Check out the full message from Martinet and Miyamoto be?low.

//twitter.com/Nin?tendoAmerica/status/169978476693??2029753

Leaping into a new era

During a recent appearance at Galaxy Con Austin, it seemed Martinet knew about as much about his new role as the rest of us. Miyamoto offered additional details, adding that the actor will meet with fans, perform familiar voices at events, sign autographs, and have a blast interacting with everyone. Martinet responded with a loving "Thank you so much, Papa!" emphasizing his unwavering enthusiasm for meeting Mario fans. 

"All that I'm here to do is to touch your hearts, to make you smile and to make you laugh, and bring a little bit of that magic of happiness," Martinet exclaimed. I think it's safe to say he's accomplished that mission. 

[caption id="attachment_402620" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo[/caption]

As for what's next, Nintendo remains tight-lipped about the new era of Mario voices. Miyamoto simply stated that, starting in October with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, "the voices of some Mario characters have become new." Hopefully, we'll find out more about who's stepping into those timeless overalls soon. In the meantime, it sounds like Martinet is going to have plenty of opportunities to remind everyone that it's still a-him who gave Mario his unforgettable voice. 

The post Charles ?Martinet clarifies Mario Ambas??sador role with help from Shigeru Miyamoto appeared first on Destructoid.

Thank the Gods of Silence; you can mute those talking flowers in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. That damned �a href="??//youtu.be/JStAYvbeSHc?feature=shared" target="_blank" rel="noopener">onward and?? upward�that one spews at Mario is locked in a very painful spot in my mind. It’s like having a grain of sand between the folds of brain, slowly aggravating everything around ?it in small but significant ways.

Thankfully, Nintendo’s own Japanese blog has shared a screenshot that reveals a setting specifically for the “Talking Flower Voice.�While it doesn’t specifically say what settings are available, I’m going to assume that if there is a setting for “voice,�then there is likely one for “no voice.�/p>

What’s funny about Nintendo’s post is that it seems to assume that people are going to want the flowers to talk to incessantly spew?? their ?insipid hints in their sharply saccharine voices. They suggest that their voices will make a lively adventure even more lively.

[caption id="attachment_401076" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Listen, Nintendo. I do?n’t know how to describe it, but these talking flowers have very punchable voic??es. They talk like a dude who is trying to impress a single mother by talking to her child. Their voices drip with cartoonish insincerity that makes me want to ruin their day by telling them the saddest story in my arsenal. If someone stepped out of a cafe and spoke to me in that voice, I would intentionally spill their drink on them, snatch the donut from their hands, and consume it right in front of them.

So, thankfully, you can turn it off.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is coming to Switch on October 10, 2023.

The post Phew, you can mute th????ose annoying talking flowers in Super Mario Bros. Wonder appeared first on Destructoid.

With the launch of today’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder-focused direct, Nintendo showed off 15 minutes of footage for the upcoming title. Some of the reveals covered details we already knew. For example, four player local co-op was a given. However, we also got to see some pretty wild features, too. Having strangers revive you online? A Badge system that lets you equip new abilities? Yoshis riding Yoshis!?

You can check out an archive of the streamed video below. However, for ?t??hose on a schedule who just want the details, here’s the most notable news we saw.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0m_uNaSres

The Super Mario Bros. Wonder Direct recap

• Bowser is back to harass the Flower Kingdom, this time he’s literally a castle.
• Game will feature “seven areas.â€?Each world features open areas that let you play levels in any order.
• Flowers will talk to you. I don’t know why. Sometimes they’ll give you coins.
• You can play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, and Toadette. They all play identically.
• Meanwhile, you can also select four different-colored Yoshis or Nabbit. They won’t take damage, but they also can’t transform with power-ups. Yoshis also have their trademark ability to eat enemies and spit them out.
• Other players can ride Yoshi players. Including other Yoshis.
• A variety of new enemies with unique properties will return alongside familiar creatures.
• Touching Wonder Flowers makes the world go trippy. This will feature unpredictable effects, like turning you into a Goomba or making you walk on the background. Collecting Wonder Seeds will return stages to normal, and you can use these to unlock new stages.

[caption id="attachment_400671" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo Twitch[/caption]

New powers

• The game features three distinct new power-ups.
  • Elephant form gives you a melee attack with your trunk. Water can be stored in your trunk to spit out at flowers and foes. You can also run across gaps that are two tiles wide without falling into them.
  • Bubble lets you shoot bubbles in what I can only hope is a Bubble Bobble reference. Bubbles can float through walls and strike normally impervious foes (like Dry Bones), turning them into coins. You can also bounce off bubbles.
  • Drill fulfills my lifelong dream of watching Mario pierce the heavens. It lets you jump up and hit enemies that would normally hurt you. It also lets you drill downward and burrow into the ground. Ceiling burrowing also works.
• You can hold a spare power-up a la Super Mario World.

[caption id="attachment_400673" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo Twitch[/caption]

The Badge system

• As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock equippable Badges. Powers include a parachute to slow falls, crouching high jumps (Super Mario Bros. 2 style), and a vine that works like a grappling hook.
• Only one Badge can be equipped per course, though you can swap out your Badge upon losing a life.
• The Badge screen showed 24 slots, so at least that many Badges exist in the game.
• Badges can be obtained through special Badge Courses. You can also buy them from shops.

[caption id="attachment_400674" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo Twitch[/caption]

Multiplayer madness

• Four player co-op returns.
• Defeated players won’t result in a lost life right away. Instead they’ll turn into a ghost, which another player can save by jumping to them within a time limit. No lives will be lost if a player is saved.
• You can connect online, where you’ll see other players in real time. The direct calls them “Live Player Shadows.â€?This includes both on the overworld and in levels.
• Live Player Shadows can save each other in stages if they spot someone as a ghost.
• You can also emote to other players and share items.
• Players can also place “Standeesâ€?in certain courses. These cardboard cutouts work as free revive points for other players to float to if they're in ghost form. Standees can be purchased with in-game currency, though the Direct implies which one you’ll get will be random.
• Helping other players increases your “Heart Points,â€?which will appear above Standees.
• You can create rooms with friends so you can play together as Live Player Shadows. This unlocks the option to play “Friend Races,â€?which involves your group competing to clear stages the fastest or accomplish set objectives.

[caption id="attachment_400675" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo Twitch[/caption]

I Wonder what they’ll think of next

Overall, Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks to be much its own thing according to the Direct. On the surface, there are certainly similarities to the New Super Mario Bros. games. But there’s enough new systems and mechanics here that should hopefully keep this one feeling fresh. That said, seeing the Badge system just made me want a traditional Paper Mario game again.

Regardless of how it shakes out, we’ll see how Super Mario Bros. Wonder ranks among the best Mario games ever when it launches on October 20 f?or the Nintendo Switch.

The post Everything we learned? from today’s brief Super Ma?rio Bros. Wonder Direct appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo has announced via Twitter that there’s a Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Dir??ect stream slated for August 31 at 7am PT?/10am ET.

The stream is scheduled to be about 15 minutes, so it’s unlikely that they’re going to really dive into much else. That said, I’m sure people are still going to be hoping for?? a “just one more thing�reveal.

//twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/stat?us/1696523235138158892?s=20

On the other hand, we don’t know a whole lot about Super Mario Bros. Wonder aside from the fact that Mario’s mushroom habit has gotten ?worse, and he also has yet another fursona; this one of an elephant. Hopefully, this stream w?ill clear up any lingering questions, like maybe who’s taking over the voice duties for Charles Martinet. At least we won’t have to wait long to find out.

The Super Mario Bros. Wonder Direct stream is scheduled for A??ugust 31, 2023 at 7am PT/10am ET.

The post Nintendo has a Super Mario Bros. Wonder direct li??ned up for August ?31 appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming October 20

To cap off its Nintendo Direct presentation, the legendary publisher lifted the lid on Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a brand new 2D p?latform adventure starring the iconic plumber and his friends. The new title will launch on Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2023.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=JStAYvbeSHc

The trailer featured what, at first, appeared to be some classic 2D Super Mario action, but soon gave way to an elastic and playable world, featuring growing pipes, talking flowers, lanky Goombas, a night-time mode, and various other strange phenomena. The trailer also showcased the "Wonder Flowers" �powerups that can change our hero in all manner of ways, from making him t?aller, to increasing his jump height, and even turning him into an elephant!

Other characters are playable, including Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, and Toad, and while the gameplay seems authentic to the 2D Super Mario style, Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks to play with the world and its characters in ways never before experienced, all daubed in a vibrant, "carto??on" visual style. More information will be revealed by Nintendo in the lead-up to the game's launch on October 20.

The post Super M??ario Bros. Wonder is a new 2D adventure for ??Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.